Venetian blind



Dec. 2%, 193?. WADE- r AL 2,103,395

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Jan. 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iji 2% William Wade Q and Edwin Norffi IN VENT ORS 7' H5172 ATTORNEY.

W 28, W37. W. WADE ET AL VENETIAN BLIND Filed Jan. 28, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wulg 45 William Wilde and Edwin Narzfi INVENTORS BY 5 T EIR ATTORNEY.

or special skill.

v the axial extremities of the carriage such that Patented Dec. 28, 1937 VENETIAN BLIND William Wade, Chicago, and Edwin North, Rockford, IlL, assignors to National Lock Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application January 28, 1937, Serial No. 122,793

11 Claims. (Cl. 156-17) This invention discloses certain improvements the chain rollers on the carriage, and taken along in Venetian blinds, and combination supporting lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; and operating means therefor. Fig. 2A is an enlarged vertical sectional detail Among the important objects of the invention of a lower chain attaching cleat, and taken along are the provision of supporting means for the lines A A o i blind assembly in the form of brackets attachable Fig. 3 is a n d pe sp t v detail of the to a window casing, and having a carriage memt unnion D t g a e Which is D ber extended therebetween from which flexible tioned t the upper ri ht-han rner Of Fi blind supporting and control elements are sus- Fig. 4 s an e a d p sp d ta l 01 t pended to maintain the slats in their operative nation rol s g and d Carriage 1 relationship. port and mounting bracket therefor;

A further and important objectis the provision 5 s a top plan e taken along lines of a carriage member having pin and slot supof Fig. 1, and showing the roller housing with the porting engagement with mounting brackets top cut away and the supporting bracket in horiaforesaid, whereby the carriage may ea y be zonifal section? installed or dismounted without the need of tools 6 i a vertical Section thr u h h p v roller housing, and taken along lines 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the combination housing pivot and chain pay-hole, viewed from the interior of the housing in the direction of line I;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the housing, taken along lines 8-8 of Fig. 7, corresponding to a median vertical plane through the pay-hole and to a rear side view of the device of Fig. 5;

- Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the trunnion bracket taken along lines 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section taken along lines I III-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical detail, partly in section, of the pulley and guide sleeve, and is taken along lines l|ii of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective detail of one of the slat clips; while Fig. 12A is an enlarged perspective fragment of a slat and clip slot therein.

The blind structure which forms part of the present invention is related in a general sense to a blind structure shown in applicants co-pending case Serial No. 122,794, filed Jan. 28, 1937. The so-called Venetian blind is well known and includes a plurality of slats supported in spaced relation by flexible members such as cloth strips, so that the slats may be tilted or folded together.

The blind of the present invention likewise includes a plurality of spaced slats l6 supported between pairs of chain elements H! from a top rail or carriage 20, as seen in Fig. 1 for example. The carriage, in turn, is pivotally supported between a, pair of mounting brackets 22 and 24 (Figs. 1, 3, and 4) which are fitted and secured into the upper corner portions, respectively, of a window A further and more specific object is the provision of blind supporting and operating mechanism including bracket members attachable to a window casing and having a carriage pivotally supported between the brackets, such support being effected by means of pin and slot engagement of a pivotable bracket member with one of the carriage may he slid or positioned at said extremity into and out of supporting engagement with the corresponding bracket, the opposite extremity of the carriage being provided with a pivoted housing member adapted for supporting engagement with the other said bracket and including also part of the blind operating or control mechanism, the said housing being positionable in mounted and supported relation with its corresponding bracket by a form of pin and slot arrangement whereby the entire carriage may be mounted in operating position by simply fitting or sliding thev carriage into supported position with the pin and slot members of the brackets.

'Other objects of the invention are directed to the provision of a combination supporting and operating means for blinds, which is relatively simple, inexpensive, rugged, and which will take up the least possibleamount of space in mounted position on the window casing.

Other novel objects of construction-and operation, including certain features of the blind operating mechanism, will appear as the following specification proceeds in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the novel blind casing 26. mounted in a Window casing; r The up of slats includes a bottommost slat 2 is an enlarged Vertical Se o h win l5 which is preferably heavier than the others so as to facilitate the lowering of the blind, and as seen in Fig. 1 this lower slat I5 is provided with a pair of axially disposed end pins 28, each of which extends into a vertically disposed track member 38 attached to the inner side portions of the window casing. In this manner a uniform vertical movement of the slat assembly is assured.

The supporting elements or chains I 8 are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the slats, both chains l8 and I8 of each pair being movably attached at their lower extremities to a cleat I9 which, in turn, is attached to the edge of the lower slat by means of nails 2| or the like. Each of the cleats I9 is in the form of an elongated channel or U-shaped metal piece having a bottom wall 23 and a pair of oppositely disposed upturned side walls 25 adapted to fit over the edge portions of the slat. The main or bottom wall portion 23 of these cleats is provided with an eye or loop 21, to which the bottom links of the chains l8 and I8 of a pair are attached.

The outermost chain l8 of each pair (see Fig. 2) extends upwardly toward an opening in the bottom of the carriage or top rail 28, and is attached to the latter by means of an elongated pin 32 which extends beyond the margins of the hole on the inner bottom side of the carriage and which is secured in place by a pair of overturned ears 33 struck out from the carriage wall.

Each outer chain I8 of each pair is pivotally attached to each of the intermediate slats by means of clips 34 (Fig. 12), these clips being in the form of elongated resilient metal strips bent back upon themselves and having crimped end portions forming an upper lip 35 and a lower inwardly turned hump 36 which is receivable in slots l'l formed on the underside of each of the intermediate slats adjacent their edge portions (Fig. 12A). A wire ring or loop 31 is fitted around the bight portion of each clip and has its end portions 38 flared outwardly through openings in a chain link. Each of these loops 3'! is large enough to permit the passage therethrough of the innermost chains l8 between the clip and the outer chain I8, and in this manner the inner chains [8' are each guided in their upward extension toward and through their respective collared openings 39 in the bottom wall of the carriage 28. The novel clips 34, such as shown in Fig. 12, are fully described and claimed in applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 122,795, filed Jan. 28, 1937.

After passing through the bottom of the carriage, the uppermost reaches of each of the inner chains 18' pass over horizontally disposed rollers 48 pivoted on the inner bottom walls of the carriage, these chain members thereafter being led from the rollers toward the left-hand end of the carriage, as seen in Fig. 4, into and through a pay-hole 4| formed in the upturned end portion 42 of the carriage, from whence they pass into the roller housing 43 at the left end of the carriage.

In the disposition illustrated in Fig. 4 for example, the innermost chains l8 are four in number, and after passing through the roller housing 43 they terminate in a common con nection with a pull-chain clamp 44 by means of which they are joined to a ball type of pullchain 45.

It will thus be apparent that one chain of each pair is attached by means of a clip to the edge of each slat, and these particular chains are secured at their respective extremities to the bottommost slat and to the bottom wall of the carriage, and since there are two of these chains on either side of the group of slats, it will follow that if the carriage is tilted about its long axis the chains l8 on one side of the slats will descend while the chains on the opposite side will rise, this motion being transmitted to the edge portions of each slat and causing the same to be tilted about their long axes. Thus the slats are tilted from their normal horizontal position into vertically directed positions so as to open and close the blind in the fashion of a shutter.

Each of the inner chains l8, it will be recalled, is attached at its lower extremity to the bottommost slat and passes at its uppermost extremity over roller means on the carriage, thence through the roller housing 43 from where it issues to a common juncture with the pull-chain 45, the

operation of which will serve to raise the lowermost slat when pulled downwardly so as to move the slat upwardly against the intervening slats and raise the latter toward the carriage.

The rollers 48 turn on shaft pins 46 which extend between the upturned side wall portions 41 of the carriage, and the rollers are desirably provided with hoods 48 in the form of metal strips bent into a double U shape with the shaft pin 46 extending through the vertical wall portions thereof so as to loosely hold the hood in position over the rollers.

At one extremity (the right-hand end as seen in Fig. 3) the carriage 28 is provided with an upstanding end wall 49 in which are a pair of spaced openings 58 positioned to receive a pair of trunnion pins 5| extended in a horizontal direction laterally away from the extremities of a trunnion arm 52, which in turn is pivotally mounted on a stud 53 extended from the bight portion of a U-shaped bracket 54 attached to a vertical wall portion 55 of the mounting bracket 24 (Figs. 3, 9, and 10) The trunnion arm 52 has an integrally formed segmental gear 56 and a pair of integral stopping ears 5'! formed adjacent the respective longitudinal extremities of the arm between the latter and the gear segment 56. The segmental gear 56 is engaged by a driving worm 58 rotatable with a shaft 59 disposed between a pair of brackets 68 extended laterally away from the vertical side. wall 55 of the bracket 24 above the trunnion arm 52, the outermost extremities of each of the. worm brackets 68 lying in the path of movement of the correspondingly disposed ears 5'! on the trunnion arm so as to limit the rotative movement of the same in both directions.

The shaft 59 extends toward the forward edge 6| of the bracket 24 and terminates in the pulley 82, keyed and secured thereto by means of an end screw 63 and having a pulley track formed with a plurality of recesses for the reception of an endless pulley chain 64, the operation of which rotates the worm 58 and causes the trunnion arm 52 to rotate about the stud 53, and as a result causes the carriage 28 to be pivoted about its long axis since the carriage is supported at this end on the trunnion pins 5|. 7

The specially formed chain pulley 82 is provided with a combination hood and sleeve 65 which prevents removal of the chain 64, and also assures positive engagement of the same with the pulley at all times. This latter mechanism forms part of applicants co-pending application, Serial No. 122,797, filed Jan. 28, 1937, which may be referred to for a more detailed description of this novel device.

which extends the chain pay-hole ll.

At its opposite (left-hand extremity, as seen in Fig. 4, the carriage 20 is provided, as before mentioned, with an upstanding end wall 42 through This payhole is formed by a stud sleeve Ill flared or peened over at its carriage extremity, securing it to the end wall, and provided with an enlarged collar portion II at its inner extremity and overlying the corresponding side wall of the roller housing 43 so as to attach the latter-to the carriage and provide an .axis aboutwhich the housing may be tilted. The housing 43 comprises a box-like member including a bottom wall I2 and having an open end and top normally closed by a curved cover plate I3, A roller I4 is pivotally mounted, as at 95, between extended opposite side wall por- 'tions of the housing, the several chains I8 being adapted to pass over this roller between the same and the vertical portion of the plate I3.

Interiorly of the housing, a. vertical roller I5 revolves abouta stud I5 (Figs, 5, 6, and 8) attached ,to and extended from the bottom wall I2, the upper end of the stud being threaded interiorly to receive a screw II which serves to secure the cover plate 13 and the roller I5 in proper position.

The disposition of the roller 75 relative to the center line or axis of the pay-hole I is such that the periphery of roller I5 is substantially tangent with the center line or axis of the pay-hole, so that the chains l8 issuing through the pay-hole from the carriage 20 will at all times be disposed for free movement through the pay-hole and around the rollers I5 and. I4, regardless of the position of the housing 43 with respect to its pivotation about the stud I I.

The housing 4'3 is designed and balanced so as to fall normally in a downward direction about its pivotal axis, as seen in Fig. 4, the latter illustration, however, showing the housing in raised position ready to be secured in place in its bracket, the lower position of the housing serving to facilitate the sliding of the carriage into mounting position in the relatively close space provided for the assembly at the top of the window casing, the housing being tilted in the position shown in Fig. 4 when the carriage is otherwise properly in j place to secure the assembly finally in mounted position by the means now to be described.

The bottom wall I2 of the housing 43 is provided with a co-extensive lug I8 and a depending ear or lug I9, each of which is respectively adapted to fit into receiving slots I8 and I9 formed in a horizontally disposed plate 89 extended laterally away from the vertical side wall portion 22' of the left mounting bracket 22, it being observed that the slot I9 is formed in the main horizontal body portion of the member 90, while the slot I8 is formed adjacent the bend of an upturned portion "I8" of the member 80.

It will thus be apparent that assuming the right-hand end of the carriage 20 to be fitted upon the trunnion studs 5i, the opposite or lefthand end of the carriage may be secured in mounted position by simply tilting the housing 43 into the position shown in Fig. 4, so as to cause the lug I8 and the bottom thereof to slide into its receiving slot I8 in bracket 22 and thereafter pivoting the housing downwardly so as to position the depending lug 79in its receiving slot I9, this latter movement being very quickly and easily effected by virtue of the peculiar disposition of the lugs and slots, and also by virtue of the tendency of the housing normally to fall into lowered position. It will also be observed that,

as shown in Fig. 4, the slots I8 and I9 are enlarged so as to permit a determinedamount of play or movement of the carriage in an axial direction, the trunnion pins 5| being dimensioned to permit a similar degree of play without passing out of the receiving apertures 59 in the corresponding end wall of the carriage. In this manner variations in the width of the window casing are provided for, this feature of \the invention being covered in applicant's co-pending case, Serial No. 122,794, filed Jan. 28, 1937.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, each of the mounting brackets 22 and 24 is provided with three adjacent wall portions adapted to confront the correspondingly disposed surfaces of the corner of the window casing, the brackets being attached to the latter by means of screws 61 or the like-extend.- ed through mounting holes 59 in the several side wall portions of the brackets.

Each of the brackets 22 and 2k is provided with ears 68 struck up from their respective vertical wall portions 22' and 55, these ears being adapted to be engaged by depending resilient lip or flange portions 8| formed along the longitudinal edges of a suitably figured or decorated valance plate 82 (Figs. 1 and 2), the resiliency of these flange portions being adapted to permit snapping the valance plate into position on and between the two brackets 22 and 24, thus shielding the entire bracket and carriage structure from view and completing the ornamental and artistic design of the blind structure.

The blind may be made to raise and lower with some of the slats in nested relation while others remain in spaced relation, so that the blind may hang at a predetermined level partially raised in the manner of the usual roller shade. This is accomplished by applying pickup loops 90 (Figs. 1 and 12) to the inner or lifting chains it just below the clips corresponding to the approximate level to which the bottommost slat is intended to rise when the blind is raisedv These pickup loops or rings 90 may desirably be in the form of metal spirals having more or less resiliency whereby they may be readily looped onto one or another of the chain links, the particular construction and operation of these loops or rings being fully described and claimed in applicant's co-pending case, Serial No. 122,796, filed Jan. 28, 1937.

The advantages of the novel blind structure are thought to be self-evident from the foregoing description in view of the drawings, and it is particularly emphasized that we have provided a simplified blind structure which is extremely rugged and at the same time simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install. The mounting brackets are readily secured to the upper corner portions of a window casing and the tracks 30 which guide the blind are likewise readily applied to the inner sides of the casing, so that the blind may thereafter be mounted in position by simply sliding the right-hand end of the carriage onto the trunnion pins 5| and thereafter settling the left-hand end of the carriage onto the bracket plate B ll and simultaneously sliding the lug I8 into the slot I8, the housing 43 thereafter falling into place automatically and pbsitioning its lug l9 in the slot I9, thus firmly securing the entire carriage structure into operative position.

It will be apparent that various modifications maybe made in theforegoing particularly described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we desire to avail ourselves of all such modifications and any and all variations and applications of the features disclosed herein and coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Blind supporting means including a main support, a plurality of blind slats suspended by flexible elements from said main support; and a pair of end supports attachable to a window casing, and one of the same having mounting pin means extended therefrom and receivable in an opening in an end of said main support, said main support having an end opposite to said last mentioned end and provided with a pivoted member having pin and slot engagement with the remaining end support of said pair whereby said main support may be readily slipped into and out of mounted position relative to said end supports.

2. Blind' supporting means including an elongated main support, a pair of mounting brackets attachable to a window casing adjacent the axial extremities of said main support, one of said brackets having extended pin means receivable in the axial end portion of said main support and the latter having a member pivoted for movement about the long axis of said main support and having pin and slot engagement with the other said bracket of said pair, said main support having flexible means suspended therefrom for supporting engagement with blind members.

3. Supporting means for a Venetian blind, said means including an elongated carriage member and bracket members attachable to a window casing at the axial extremities of said carriage, one of said brackets having pin means extended from a movable arm on said bracket and receivable in the corresponding axial end portion of said carriage, the opposite end of said carriage having a member attached thereto for pivotal movement in a direction about the long axis of said carriage, said member having pin and slot engagement with the correspondingly positioned one of said bracket members, said carriage having flexible elements suspended therefrom and slats engaged by said elements, and being pivotable about its long axis relative to said bracket members to tilt said slats.

4. Blind supporting and operating means including a pair of bracket members attachable to a window casing or the like, an elongated carriage member supported between said brackets for pivotal movement about its long axis and being supportably engaged with said brackets by pin and slot means, flexible means depending from said carriage and supporting a plurality of slats in spaced relation therebelow, manually operable means for pivoting said carriage to tilt said slats, roller means on said carriage, a plurality of elongated flexible elements each attached at one of their respective extremities to a lower one of said slats and passing over said roller means whereby the said elements may be moved over said roller means to raise and lower said slats, together with manually engageable means connected with said last-mentioned flexible elements for raising and lowering the slats as aforesaid.

5. A Venetian blind'including a pair of bracket members attachable to a window casing, an elongated carriage member extended between said bracket members, one of the latter having a pivoted arm with pin means extended therefrom into the corresponding axial end portion of said carriage, manually operable means supported by said last mentioned bracket member for pivoting said arm, a housing member attached to the opposite end portion of said carriage for movement about the long axis of the latter, roller means in said housing, roller means on said carriage, said housing having pin and slot engagement with the correspondingly positioned one of said bracket members, a plurality of elongated flexible elements suspended from said car- 10 riage, a plurality of slat members attached to said flexible elements and adapted to be tilted by pivotal movement of said carriage, and other flexible elements attached to a lower one of said slats and passing over said roller means in said 15 carriage through said housing and over the roller means therein in such manner that the said last-mentioned flexible elements may be moved over said roller means to raise and lower said slats. 20

6. A Venetian blind including a pair of bracket members attachable to a window casing, an elongated carriage extended between said brackets, one of the latter having a pivoted arm and spaced pin members disposed radially of the 25 axis of pivotation of said arm and receivable in openings in a corresponding axial end of said carriage, manually operable mechanism on said bracket member for pivoting said arm, said carriage having at its opposite axial extremity a 30 housing member pivotally attached thereto for movement about the axis of the carriage, said housing having an opening disposed co-axially with the axis of pivotation of the carriage, roller means in said housing and disposed tangentially 35 respective to the main axis of said opening, roller means on said carriage, a plurality of elongated flexible elements extended into said housing over the said roller means therein through the said opening. thereof over the said roller 40 means on said carriage and downwardly away from the latter for connection with the slat member, other elongated flexible elements suspended from said carriage and attached to said last-mentioned slat member, a plurality of slats disposed between said carriage and said firstmentioned slat and pivotally attached to said last-mentioned flexible elements whereby said several slats may be tilted when said carriage is pivoted as aforesaid, and said slats may be raised 50 and lowered by a corresponding movement of said first-mentioned flexible elements over said roller means, said housing having pin and slot engagement with its corresponding said bracket member.

'7. A Venetian blind including a first bracket member, a yoke-shaped trunnion arm pivotable on said bracket, a second bracket member spaced away from said first bracket member, an elongated carriage extended between said bracket members and supportably engaged at one axial extremity by said trunnion arm, said carriage having a pivoted member at its opposite axial extremity, an opening disposed co-axially with said carriage and communicating between the 65 same and said pivotally mounted member, roller means supported by said last-mentioned member tangentially to said opening, said pivotally mounted member having pin-and-slot and bearing engagement with said second bracket mem- 7( ber and having flexible blind operating means extended over said roller means through said opening for movable suspension from said carriage and operative engagement with blind means disposed therebelow, manually operable 7 mechanism for pivoting said trunnion arm, and flexible means extended from said carriage and pivotally attached to blind members for tilting the same when said carriage is pivoted.

8. A Venetian blind including a pair of bracket members having rectangularly disposed wall portions adapted to fit for attachment in opposite upper corner portions of a window casing, one of said brackets having a first pivoted member with stud means thereon receivable in the axial end wall of a carriage member, manually operable mechanism for pivoting said first pivotable member, an elongated carriage supportably engaged at one axial extremity with the stud means in the manner aforesaid, and having a housing member pivotally attached at its opposite axial extremity and movable in a direction about the axis of the carriage, said housing having an opening communicating with said carriage and substantially co-axial with the axis of pivotation of the same and of the said housing, and the latter having roller means disposed tangentially to said axis of pivotation, the correspondingly positioned one of said bracket members having a horizontally disposed plate member against which said housing member is adapted to rest, said housing being held in position thereon by pin and slot engagement therewith, a pluralityof slat members suspended by flexible elements from said carriage and adaptedto be tilted by pivotation of the latter as aforesaid, together with flexible means attached to the lowermost one of said slats and extended into said carriage through the aforesaid opening and through the said housing over the roller means therein, the said last-mentioned flexible means being operable to raise and lower saidblind and the slats thereof. 7

9. Blind supporting and operating means including bracket members attachable to a support, an elongated carriage member mounted between and on said bracket members for pivotal movement about its long axis, said carriage having a said carriage for engagement with one of said.

slats and manually movable to raise and lower the same.

10. A Venetian blind including a pair oi! brackets for attachment to a support, an elongated carriage plate having oppositely disposed vertical end walls, one of which is provided with a pair of openings spaced equally from the long axis of its axis substantially parallel to that of said last opening, said housing having a bottom portion adapted to rest on a horizontally extending surface of the adjacent one of 'said brackets and having pin and slot engagement with the same eflect to prevent horizontal disengaging movement of thehousing from the bracket, blindmeans suspended by flexible means from said carriage, manually operable means for pivoting said pivoted arm to pivot said carriage and the said blind means, together with flexible means passing over the said roller means in said housing and through said coaxial opening over and through said carriage for operative engagement with said blind means, and operable to move said blind means in a vertical sense.

11. In a Venetian blind, including a plurality of slats suspended by flexible elements in normally spaced relation from a window support or the like, supporting mechanism comprising an elongated carriage from which said flexible elements and slats are suspended, together with mounting means for said carriage including a pair of brackets attachable to a window casing and one of said brackets having a pivotedmemher having pin and slot engagement with an end of said carriage and movable to pivot the latter about its long axis, manually operable means on said bracket to pivot said arm, a second bracket of said pair having a horizontally extended portion at the opposite end of said carriage and the latter having a housing member with a bottom wall adapted to rest on said horizontal portion of the bracket and having pin and slot engagement therewith to prevent horizontal sliding disengagement from said bracket, said housing being pivotally attached to said carriage by a 

